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The Associate Category Manager drives category performance through detailed analysis of product assortment, pricing change analysis, including historical changes and future forecasting, vendor proposals and agreements. The position is focused on optimization of category activities to include new product review, assortment review, vendor negotiations, and pricing work related to the assigned category.New Ways of Work: This position has been segmented as hybrid meaning the work is a combination of 3 days onsite In Rosemont, IL (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and 2 days remotely (Monday and Friday) as defined by the role segmentation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manage and provide detailed analysis of assigned category performance including growth objectives. Analysis will focus on the areas of product assortment, pricing, promotions, new product introductions, and pricing changes. Maintain regular reports to track performance and identify impact of variables on category performance against established metrics. Identify and report on trends, changes and opportunities. Provide suggestions aimed at increasing category performance.
- Manage and maintain relationships with vendors leading product reviews, identification and assessment of opportunities and negotiating promotions for conferences. Negotiate with vendors who currently do not have in-place agreements with US Foods.
- Review and assess vendor performance reports, identify issues and provide recommendations to Category Manager.
- Conduct product assortment review and analysis, identifying top-performing SKUs by division and region. Identify areas for potential growth and analyze impact of proposed assortment changes. Recommend changes and actions aimed at enhancing category effectiveness and performance.
- Review category pricing reports on a regular basis, identifying potential pricing issues and opportunities. Conduct a detailed analysis on the impact of pricing and assortment changes and provide findings and recommendations to the Category Manager. Support the category by developing category specific communications, including product launch support materials.
- Maintain close relations with US Foods regions and divisions with the objective of understanding critical requirements and perspectives and ensuring that their needs are addressed in the overall category strategy. Liaise with divisions to resolve escalated merchandising issues.
RELATIONSHIPS
- Internal: Work across all levels of USF staff within corporate, region and divisional organizations, up to and including corporate executive leadership.
- External: Manage relationships with multiple critical vendors and work closely with external third parties, vendors and consulting firms.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Hybrid: This role is partially remote, and the associate is expected to perform assigned responsibilities from a combined home-based and office-based environment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 3 years of Category Management or related experience in retail, food service or with a consumer goods company.
- Experience in vendor relations, pricing and management of product assortment.
- Ability to operate successfully in a matrix environment and work effectively across multiple groups and levels.
- Solid quantitative and analytical skills and the ability to work in a team setting.
- Possess, or be able to rapidly develop, a strong knowledge of products within assigned category and division sales requirements.
- Ability to provide fact-based recommendations across various levels of management.
- High degree of motivation, ability to prioritize and self-direct, strong business acumen and sound interpersonal skills.
- Strong verbal, written and presentation skills.
- Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Microsoft Outlook.
EDUCATION
- Four year college degree in business or related field, or equivalent experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Category Management or related experience in foodservice or food manufacturing.
PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Standard required physical activities including length of time performing each activity.
This role will also receive an annual incentive plan bonus.
Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please click here: https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html.
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Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between
$75,000 - $120,000***EOE – Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Age/Genetic Information/Protected Veteran/Disability Status***
Skills Required
- Three years of category management or related experience in retail, food service, or consumer goods
- Experience in vendor relations, pricing, and product assortment management
- Ability to operate successfully in a matrix environment and work effectively across multiple groups and levels
- Solid quantitative and analytical skills
- Ability to work effectively in a team setting
- Strong knowledge of products within the assigned category and division sales requirements, or ability to rapidly develop it
- Ability to provide fact-based recommendations across various levels of management
- High motivation, prioritization and self-direction, strong business acumen, and sound interpersonal skills
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Four-year college degree in business or a related field, or equivalent experience
- Category management or related experience in foodservice or food manufacturing
US Foods Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about US Foods and has not been reviewed or approved by US Foods.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan options and day-one eligibility in many roles is highlighted as a relative strong point. Union agreements and company materials reinforce that health coverage is a core part of the total rewards package.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Incentives such as overtime, case/stop pay, and uncapped commissions often boost earnings in delivery, warehouse, and sales roles. Earnings can rise notably when hours are heavy or targets are met.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) plan is standard, and recent union contracts add pension coverage in some locations. Together these programs support longer-term financial security.
US Foods Insights
What We Do
US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 300,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With 28,000 associates and more than 70 locations, US Foods provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, IL, and generates more than $28 billion in annual revenue. Visit usfoods.com to learn more. ------------ Rules of Engagement Statement: We are proud to support community engagement on the US Foods LinkedIn page, and we're excited to see your comments, photos and videos. Please note that the views expressed by the community do not necessarily reflect those of US Foods. Before posting, please take a moment to read our rules for community content. We reserve the right to remove content that violates these rules. 1. Don't break the law. Content that appears to break the law or that advocates for breaking the law also is not permitted. 2. Be polite and courteous to everyone, even those you disagree with. This also means you may not post anything that is threatening, harassing, abusive, bullying, discriminatory, profane, sexually explicit, obscene, violent, gruesome, or similarly objectionable. 3. Stay on topic for this community and dialogue. Off-topic content may include but is not limited to irrelevant or out of context material, spam, promotional content, and links to third-party sites. 4. Follow LinkedIn's Terms and Conditions. 5. All posts must be by a real person and from a real profile. Content from fake or anonymous profiles is not permitted. 6. Our employees must also follow all of our applicable policies and guidelines, including but not limited to our Code of Conduct and Electronic Social Networking Policy
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